As part of our ongoing conversation on homelessness, we asked members of the Family Promise network and individuals working to serve families experiencing homelessness to share their personal thoughts and reflections on Family Promise and the issue of family homelessness. These writers are true thought leaders, using their skills and expertise to develop and implement creative solutions that are changing the lives of parents and children in their communities. This post is about Mitchell Petit-Frere, Family Promise’s Creative Content Manager.
This article was originally published by The Daily Record. View the full original article here.
Protest NJ: Residents organize George Floyd peaceful protests for the first time
As thousands continue to protest the death of 46-year-old George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, new young leaders are rising to the occasion.
In Clifton, Justin Rivera and his friends teamed up to organize a protest rally for the first time. Similarly, Parsippany residents Mitchell Petit-Frere, Jabari Jackson and Maurice Matthias led their own march in the suburbs, also for the first time.
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In Parsippany, thousands of all ages gathered outside Parsippany High School on Tuesday. Petit-Frere, Jackson and Matthias organized the march in 30 hours with the help of Black Lives Matter Morristown and immigrant rights group Wind of the Spirit.
“Everything happened so fast. Maurice called late Sunday and asked if we could set something up in Parsippany, and I said, ‘I don’t know how to but we can try,’ ” Petit-Frere said.
The three contacted friends, family and local organizations. Jackson is well-known in the community for his volunteer work and his nonprofit, which also helped recruit marchers. During the protest, marchers walked down Vail Road as neighbors stood outside their homes. On the sidelines, neighbors handed out water, and a group of elderly residents sat outside Vail Manor, with one making the sign for peace with his fingers. A bystander thanked the crowd for marching outside his home.
“The fact that we had support from seasoned community organizers ensured everything went smoothly. On the day of the march, it was peaceful and impactful and very well organized. That would not have happened if we didn’t have community support,” Petit-Frere said.
